From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishnuclearnu‧cle‧ar /ˈnjuːkliə $ ˈnuːkliər/ ●●○ W2 AWL adjective [usually before noun] 1 HPTPrelating to or involving the nucleus (=central part) of an atom, or the energy produced when the nucleus of an atom is either split or joined with the nucleus of another atom France’s reliance on nuclear energy a nuclear power station a nuclear-powered submarine2 PMWHPrelating to or involving the use of weapons that use nuclear energy → anti-nuclear, conventionalnuclear bomb/weapon/missile etc the threat of nuclear attack concern about the country’s nuclear weapons program With the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the possibility of a nuclear holocaust (=a nuclear war that destroys much of the Earth) was greatly reduced. a nuclear testing area
Examples from the Corpus
nuclear• The findings of 47 per-cent who preferred nuclear compares with 50 per-cent for fossil fuels.• Gasoline would have been ideal for a sudden blaze; the sealed nuclear drive was useless in that respect.• Most of the debate was really about an alleged universality of the nuclear family of married biological parents and their legitimate children.• nuclear fission• Any more massive star that exhausts its nuclear fuel will collapse completely under its own gravity.• This is the first stage of a nuclear reaction which can lead to an explosion.• According to the report the country possessed four nuclear reactors.• a nuclear testing area• The left strongly opposes both nuclear tests and plans to manufacture nuclear weapons.• the threat of nuclear war• These authors argue that, in the absence of a specific treaty prohibition nuclear weapons are not perse illegal.nuclear energy• S., restrict certain investments in, for example, nuclear energy.• Towards this end, agreements were signed on fishing, trade, environmental protection and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.• Juries may not understand the niceties of nuclear energy, but they can distinguish right and wrong.• They suggest instead, however, that preference should be given to the development of small nuclear energy complexes.• This is just the latest example of the threat to free information and even free speech presented by the nuclear energy lobby.• By then nuclear energy should be contributing more than one-fifth of electricity generation.• What the public and governments have to assess is the need for nuclear energy versus the risk of another Chernobyl-type accident.• Worst of all are the perils of nuclear energy whether used for peace or war.nuclear bomb/weapon/missile etc• They tell us that we should not manufacture and deploy nuclear weapons.• Draw battlefield nuclear weapons back from the front line.• As for Mrs Thatcher's loudly voiced determination to force through a replacement of the Lance nuclear missile, nobody is listening.• All the danger is in the White House, from nuclear weapons on down.• Finally, he pro-posed a moratorium on nuclear weapons testing.Origin nuclear (1800-1900) nucleus 